Ariel was running laps on the football field behind the clubhouse to blow off some steam. She had her headphones in and her iPod turned up all the way. She just couldn't get her mind to shut up. The town carnival was coming up, and she knew that Gemma would expect her to help out like she always did. She also knew that because Gemma thought she was sleeping with Jax AND Dean (all thanks to Dean's little display that morning) that she would be extra cruel to her. Gemma had a mean streak a mile wide, and you did not want her to point that at you. But judging by the look she had thrown her before leaving, Ariel was on her bad side. She was so focused on Gemma and everything that had gone wrong that she didn't hear Dean come up next to her. When she finally noticed him, she jumped so bad she almost fell over. He reached out and steadied her, but she just shrugged his hands off and ripped her headphones out of her ears.
Dean was struck by how sexy she looked when she was working out. He saw the glare she was leveling at him, and he cleared his throat. "Nice rebuild you got going." Her eyes widened briefly. So briefly, that he couldn't even be sure he saw it. But she nodded. "Thanks. It's a birthday gift for someone." He just looked at her. "Look, Ariel. I just wanted to apologize. I know that you're royally pissed at me right now, and you probably won't believe it, but I am sorry. I usually have much better control over my impulses, and even though Jax probably deserved it, because let's be honest, when has he not done something to deserve a punch," the corner of her mouth twitched, but she fought down the smile. Dean was actually pretty cute when he was trying to apologize. "-wasn't my place. So, once again, I'm sorry." He turned around to walk away, but her voice ringing out stopped him. "I get it, Dean." He turned to face her, watching her roll her headphones over in her palm. "I know that you're confused about-something." He noticed her slight pause before the she said something, but he let it slide. "I don't know how to help with that, but I can tell you that you need to curb this destructive streak. I watched Opie do this, and he landed himself in jail for five years. I don't know how you need to fix this, but you can't keep going down this road." He was shocked when he saw genuine concern in her eyes. For him.
"I know we haven't exactly gotten along since you've been home, but you're still a club member. Which means you mean a lot to everyone here. You have to stop. I mean, insulting me is one thing, because I can handle it, and you've never done it during an important meeting. But punching Jax in the middle of church? I mean, you have to know that isn't healthy. We all have a certain level of respect that we need to show when we are behind those doors, and you didn't even think about that today." She sighed. "I don't want to have to strip your rank, or ban you from church. I really don't, Dean. I hate saying this, but I care about you. And I don't want to watch another person I care about self destruct. I can't." With that, she put her headphones back in, and ran off. He sat there for a few minutes taking in what she said. I don't want to watch another person I care about self destruct. I can't. Her voice had been so broken for that statement; it made him wonder who she was talking about. Then it hit him fully. She said she cared for him. He smiled, thinking that the day had just gotten a little brighter.
Jax walked into the clubhouse, saw Sam, and tried to walk back out, but Sam's voice calling out stopped him. "Talked to Ariel." He sighed and turned around to face his VP. "Yeah, and?" Sam stood up and walked up to him. "She doesn't want people fighting over her, Jax. She hates the attention, I know you know that." Jax rolled his eyes. "It's really not my fault that your brother had his panties in a bunch over her." Jax regretted what he said before Sam even reacted. When he did, Jax found himself slammed against a wall with a very angry Sam holding him there. "Watch what you say, Teller. He is my brother." Ax held up his hands. "I'm sorry man, really." "Sam?" Sam's head whipped around at the sound of Brianna's voice. She made a face when she saw what was going on. "Oh, sorry to interrupt, I was just checking to see if you knew where Ariel is?" Sam cleared his throat, but didn't let go of Jax. "She usually runs around the football field around this time. You can probably find her out there." Brianna walked in and placed her hand on his shoulder, and Sam finally let go of Jax. "Get out of here, before I do something I regret. Jax just nodded his head, and then left.
Once he was gone, Sam took a deep breath, and then turned to face Brianna. She had a worried look on her face, and when Sam reached for her, she let him gather her close. "Everything ok?" Sam just nodded, and when she tilted her head back to look into his eyes, he kissed her. Her eyes widened in shock, but then she melted into it. She put her arms around his neck, and his tightened around her waist. She could feel his desperation in the kiss, and she found herself trying to make him forget everything. When he tilted his head and deepened the kiss, she let him. He turned and pressed her against the wall, and his mouth moved from hers to her neck, and then he just rested his forehead on hers. She cleared her throat before chuckling. "That was…unexpected." Sam looked up and met her eyes. "Sorry." She shook her head, pressing a light kiss to his lips before answering. "Don't apologize. I wanted that as much as you. I just didn't expect it at that particular moment." He smiled at her, and when she smiled back, he kissed her again.
Ariel walked into the clubhouse after her run with the intention of getting in the shower, but when she turned the corner, she bumped into Sam and Brianna? Ariel burst into laughter when she realized what she had walked up on. Bri and Sam were both shades of pink, and Sam's hair was a mess. Sam had Bri pressed up on a wall. Ariel held up her hands, not even bothering to remove her headphones, and scooted past them into her dorm, shutting the door. Sam and Brianna both smiled at the loud laughter that burst out of the room. "Well, that was sufficiently awkward." Brianna said, laughing when Sam groaned. "At least it was only Ariel. We are kind of in an obvious place, and anyone could have walked up to us." Brianna nodded in agreement before gently pushing Sam away from her, then reaching up to comb his hair back into its normal state. She brushed past him, halting when he grabbed her arm as she went past. "Thank you." She shot him a confused look, and he pulled her back in, kissing her deeply. "Just, thank you." She smiled at him, cupping his face, and running her thumb along his bottom lip before she turned and went into Ariel's room. Sam went towards his dorm, needing a cold shower.
Ariel came out of the bathroom connected to her dorm, and jumped out of her skin when she noticed Bri sitting on her bed. "Jesus Christ, Brianna! Are you trying to kill me?" she softened at the dreamy look in her friend's eyes, and smiled. "Ok, Dreamy Mcdreamer, talk to me." And with that, Ariel heard every detail about what she had walked in on. She laughed and teased, and watched Brianna act like a teenager again, and it took her mind off all her problems. "I really like him, Ariel." She said with a sigh. Ariel smiled. "I can tell, Bri. So what's wrong?" Brianna nudged Ariel's shoulder in a silent acknowledgement of how well they knew each other. "I just don't want it to get complicated. He is the VP of the club. How do I know that he won't cheat, or whatever else?" Ariel looked at her friend in shock. "Ok, first, Samuel Winchester does NOT cheat. He never has. Two, I will be there with him during the club runs, and all that. He won't have the chance to cheat. Besides, I've seen that man look at you. He is totally sprung, and I've never seen Sam this bad. Ever. You have him wrapped around your finger, and you know it. I say go for it." Brianna smiled, and then nodded. She looked at Ariel and sighed. "Hate to bring all this back into focus for you, but what are you going to do about Dean?" Ariel flopped onto the bed on her back. "I think we've come to an understanding?" Brianna spun and looked at her, and Ariel told her about what happened on the football field. Brianna knew that Ariel hadn't meant to reveal so much to Dean, but she had, and now she was even more confused. The two girls sat there and talked, and before they realized it, three hours had gone past.
They all got called into the main room of the clubhouse. It wasn't church, because EVERYONE was there, including the women, and Gemma had called it. When Ariel and Brianna walked in, they walked over to the couch where Sam was sitting, and he pulled Bri onto his lap, causing everyone to shot him a look, but no one questioned it, especially after he kissed her hello. Jo shot Bri a look, and she just flipped her off, which of course made her laugh. Gemma pointed out that the carnival was coming into town, and the club responded with a good-natured groan, knowing they weren't going to have a choice but to help out. Not with Gemma at the head of the committee and married to the president of their chapter. Gemma went through every part of the carnival, and assigned duties to everyone. Ariel somehow lucked out, and got to work with Sam and Bri, but groaned silently when Dean was put with them too. They were the lifeguards at the community pool while everyone else ran the rides and stuff. They only saving grace of this carnival was after it was closed, the club got free reign over it and the rides, and it was always a blast. Sam nudged Ariel and mimed out swimming, and Ariel just chuckled, pushing him playfully, and almost unseating Brianna in the process. By the time they were released from the meeting, most of them were not happy about where they got placed for the carnival, but knew that arguing with Gemma would be pointless. Gemma pointed out that they should all get an early night as set-up started the next day.
